Entrepreneur sells 83-Year-Old family business to beach it up with Tikiz Shaved Iced & Ice Cream.

Central Panhandle, Fla. – October 28, 2016

Name: Scotty Bailey

Launched Tikiz Shaved Ice & Ice Cream Franchise: July 2016

Service Area: The Central Panhandle, Florida area. Scotty owns three territories, covering most of the Florida Panhandle, including Walton and Okaloosa Counties. Starting off with one truck, he has built his new home in the middle of the three to ensure he can get to events wherever he is needed.

Scotty grew up in an entrepreneurial family and was the third generation to lead his family’s finance company that was founded in the 1920s. It was the first finance company in his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi. After 30 years of managing the business, he was ready for a change. He sold the company to a family friend and moved his wife and son to their favorite vacation spot, the Florida Panhandle. The fun and flexible business model was a breath of fresh air from the typical 9-5 lifestyle he lived for years. Plus, his wife had no problem finding a job due to a teacher shortage in their community. Though Scotty’s first Tikiz unit has been in operation for less than six months, he has already accomplished a huge Fourth of July event and his calendar is jam-packed with school events, festivals and sporting tournaments.

Q: What were the most unexpected challenges of opening your franchise? I’ve had my fair share of hurdles to overcome, nothing is ever as easy as it seems. However, if you’re dead set on working for yourself, it will be worth it. The biggest challenge was starting up a new business in a different state. We were juggling building our house in Florida, closing on our house in Mississippi and picking up events in Florida all that the same time.

Q: Now that the transition is starting to smooth out, what are you most excited about? Starting the next chapter with my family in our go-to vacation spot and integrating the business in the developing area. It’s neat to see more tourists flocking to the area, in addition to new residents moving in and building houses – my business is in the heart of it all.

Q: What are some of the biggest changes, going from the finance world to Tikiz Shaved Ice & Ice Cream? The flexibility of the work day and people being happy to see you. Rather than collections, having to talk legal issues or courts, we bring an uplifting experience to anyone looking for a tasty treat. It’s nice to get out of the desk, enjoy the unconventional hours and bring nothing but joy to families.

ABOUT TIKIZ SHAVED ICE & ICE CREAM:
Since 2012, Tikiz Shaved Ice & Ice Cream has rolled into communities across the nation, providing locals with a hint of tropical-flavor with its fun, one-of-a-kind experience and delicious Hawaiian shaved ice and ice cream treats. Founded and based in Boca Raton, Florida, the fast-growing mobile franchise is exploding across the United States with more than 20 trucks on the road and another 20-plus in development. Tikiz has franchise opportunities across the nation with year-round options for sales and business growth. For more franchise information, visit tikiz.com/franchising-info.